Our exporters have been able to achieve export successes in the face of very difficult circumstances and in a highly unpredictable environment, says the Chairman of the Fiji Trade and Investment Board (FTIB), Mr Viliame Naupoto.
He highlighted this at the TFL Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards 2009 at Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa over the weekend.
FTIB chairman Mr Viliame Naupoto said 2009 has not been a easy year for exporters because with the global financial crisis there has been a downturn of leading financial markets such as the United State and the Euro Zone.
“The trickle down effect of the crisis to some of our major traditional trading partners have also created additional hardships for our Fiji exporters,” he said.
 |
| PM Bainimarama presents the RBF Agriculture of the Year award to Mr Peni Moi from Ben's Trading Ltd |
More photos Mr Naupoto said what this simply means is that our exporters are facing tough times and therefore they need the support of both Government and other stakeholders in order to succeed on the international scene.
“Monetary policies such as the Devaluation of the Fiji dollar by RBF are just some examples of how we can do our part within the framework of which each agency exists, to assist our exporters.
He said the fact that a business is able to export at all in these difficult times of the global financial crisis is a clear indication of the guts, passion and perseverance which makes our exporters the winners.
“The companies we will honor here tonight are, “walking the talk, increasing exports for Fiji, which results in inflows into –and hence new money circulating through our economy. In addition to bringing in this much needed foreign exchange earnings, these companies also make available job opportunities for our people, whilst acting as a conduit through which Fiji builds and maintains important trade relations with other countries,” Mr Naupoto said.
He said the greater significance is these exporters actually market Fiji, offshore and likewise expand our international commercial engagements and opportunities.